GLOBAL MARKETS-Global shares extend gains on U.S. stimulus hopes, upbeat data

* U.S. stocks extend gains as U.S. stimulus talks progress
* Tokyo untraded due to system glitch, China on holiday
* Uncertainties over U.S. election cloud outlook
* European stocks seen steady to slightly higher
* Asian stock markets: https://tmsnrt.rs/2zpUAr4

(Adds TSE says share trading will be halted all day)
By Hideyuki Sano
TOKYO, Oct 1 (Reuters) - Global shares tried to extend gains
on Thursday on renewed hopes for fresh U.S. stimulus measures,
but mounting uncertainty ahead of America's presidential
election and technical glitches in Japan's market kept gains in
check.
S&P500 futures ESc1 rose 0.4% in Asia, extending Wall
Street shares' rebound overnight after strong employment data
and talk of progress on long-delayed COVID-19 relief
legislation. .N
European stocks were seen steady to firmer, with
pan-European Euro Stoxx 50 futures STXEc1 up 0.09%, German DAX
futures FDXc1 almost flat and Britain's FTSE futures FFIc1
adding 0.24%.
MSCI's broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan
.MIAPJ0000PUS was up 0.5%, with Australian shares .AXJO
rising 1.1% and Indian shares .BSESN adding 1.5%.
But regional trade was thinned by problems at the Tokyo
Stock Exchange (TSE) and holidays in Greater China and South
Korea.
The TSE suspended share trading for the full day as a glitch
in its electronic trading system caused the worst outage ever
suffered by the world's third-largest stock market. It is not
clear when trading will resume. Smaller, regional bourses in Nagoya, Fukuoka and Sapporo
were also forced to suspend trade because they also use the
TSE's system.
But derivatives trading in Osaka was unaffected, with Nikkei
futures JNIc1 rising 0.2%.
On Wednesday, the S&P500 .SPX gained 0.83% and the Nasdaq
Composite .IXIC added 0.74%, even though they wrapped up
September with their first monthly declines since March, when
mandated coronavirus shutdowns slammed the economy.
A spate of economic data mostly surprised to the upside,
with the ADP National Employment index blowing past analysts'
expectations and pending home sales surging to an all-time high.
"The U.S. data is surprisingly strong, so that underpins the
market. But I don't expect a clear-cut trend in markets until we
see the outcome of the U.S. election," said Hirokazu Kabeya,
chief global strategist at Daiwa Securities.
Also helping to boost risk appetite, U.S. House of
Representative Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Treasury Secretary
Steven Mnuchin both expressed hope for a breakthrough in
partisan stimulus negotiations. Hopes about coronavirus vaccine developments also
underpinned market sentiment, helping to counter concerns about
rising COVID-19 infections in Europe, said Tomo Kinoshita,
global market strategist at Invesco Asset Management.
But many market participants remained cautious after
Tuesday's chaotic presidential debate, which heightened fears
that a disputed ballot on Nov. 3 could lead to a long and messy
transfer of power. President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden
talked over each other and traded insults as they sparred over
the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare and the economy. "Global investors may be pulling back from the U.S. as the
election approaches and the political dysfunction in Washington
is laid bare," said Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer
with Independent Advisor Alliance in Charlotte, North Carolina.
"But they also need to take into consideration that a weaker
U.S. economy could presage a weaker global economy, which may
drive investors to safe-haven assets" later in 2020, he added.
In the currency market, the robust U.S. data and stimulus
hopes helped to push down the U.S. dollar against riskier
currencies.
The euro rose 0.2% to $1.1745 EUR= while the Australian
dollar ticked up 0.2% to $0.7181 AUD=D4 .
The offshore Chinese yuan gained 0.5% to 6.7493 per dollar
CNH=D4 in thin liquidity due to the holiday in mainland China
and Hong Kong, while the yen was little moved at 105.50 to the
dollar JPY= .
In commodities, oil prices were flat, with U.S. crude
futures at $40.21 per barrel CLc1 and Brent futures at $42.33
a barrel LCOc1 .